Educate Oklahoma: Changing Demographics

This school year, for the first time, minority students will outnumber white students in Oklahoma; and the largest minority group usually speaks another language.

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“The demographic has very much shifted to a Hispanic population,” said seventh-year English Language teacher, Adam Howard.

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Howard said classrooms like his are where the Spanish speakers with limited spoken English ability pick up the written English skills they’ll need.

“We want them to keep their home language and culture, and strengthen their new language and culture,” Howard said.

He makes no effort to make them speak English only; the goal is to make them literate in both languages.